TRIATHLON IS A CHALLENGING SPORT that requires stamina and drive to complete all three tasks: running, biking and swimming. It?s for the competitive adrenaline junkie and sports enthusiasts. Now, kids can join in and have fun while participating as well.

Alaska Milk brings in IronKids Philippines, a spin-off of the Cobra Energy Ironman 70.3 adult competition held in Camarines Sur in Bicol last year. President and CEO of Alaska Milk Corp. Wilfred Steven Uytengsu Jr. said IronKids was set up in the Philippines to encourage the youth to lead an active lifestyle.

?Kids are so into technology?TV, Internet, gaming consoles?that exercise is sometimes limited to just thumb movements. It is alarming, too, that a lot of children are getting obese. When we held Ironman, a lot of kids watched while their parents participated so we thought, why not let them get into their own game?? Uytengsu said during the recent launch at Dusit Thani Manila. ?We are also the first to franchise Ironkids in Asia.?

Ironkids aims to prove that young people can be healthy and tech-savvy at the same time. The program is patterned after the Alaska Power Camp?a summer sports program for kids. All physically fit kids, ages 8-14, can join.

Two running races kick off the event (1K for 6-8 years old, 1.5K for 9-10 years; 2K for 11-12 years; and 3K for 13-14). The first run will be at the Manila Polo Club Polo Field on Feb. 28; another marathon is set on April 11. Registration is ongoing until Feb. 28 for this leg. Running coach Ani de Leon gives tips and coordinates.

It will be followed by two aquathlons (100m swim and 1K run for 6-8 years old; 200m and 1.5k for 9-10; 300m and 2k for 11-12; 400m and 3K for 13-14) on May 23 at Manila Polo Club and July 25 at Ayala Alabang Country Club.

Both parents and kids can join the triathlon as both events simultaneously take place in Camarines Sur. The IronKids (100-m swim, 3K bike and 1K run for 6-8 years old; 200m, 6K and 1.5K for 9-10; 300m, 10K and 2K for 11-12; and 400m, 12K and 3K for 13-14) will be on Aug. 21 and Sept. 26.

?We will have the first children?s triathlon a day before the Cobra Energy Ironman 70.3 challenge in Camsur, and the kids will get on a portion of the actual Ironman course. Then we will end the series in September with another children?s triathlon,? adds Uytengsu.

Participants should submit birth certificates, written parents? consent and registration forms to the registration area at Timex, SM Megamall. Visit www.ironkidsphil.com for deadlines per competition leg.

Parents? participation is encouraged but they should remember that Ironkids is primarily a children?s event. To avoid overeager parents from meddling in at the competition, organizers will be strictly guarding designated areas from where they could watch the competitors. Medical facilities will also be on standby to assure the kids? safety.

?It should be the children?s initiative to sign up, not the parents pushing kids into joining. The race is designed for first-timers so parents need not worry that it?s too difficult for kids, and each leg is divided into age groups,? adds Uytengsu.

All participants will receive an Ironkids T-shirt. Winners will receive medals and other goodies.

Ironkids is part of Alaska Milk Corp.?s youth sports development program that includes Alaska Basketball and Football Power Camp, and Alaska Football Cup. Uytengsu?s Sunrise Event Inc. promotes these events.